Football fans have been left stunned by the news Glen Johnson is back in the England squad

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Jesse Lingard has been called up to the England squad by Gareth Southgate

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Marcus Rashford returns to the England set up

The big surprise was a recall for Stoke right-back Johnson whose previous game — his 54th cap — was in a 2-1 loss to Uruguay at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Johnson, 32, has been brought back from the cold after Liverpool’s Nathaniel Clyne was ruled out with a knee problem, while his club-mate Adam Lallana has a groin injury.

Southgate has several other injury problems but Marcus Rashford returns to the senior squad, while Jesse Lingard also gets the nod. Arsenal’s Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are back, too.

Allardyce’s reign lasted just 67 days and Southgate has stepped up from the England Under-21s.

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Gareth Southgate will want to prove that he should have been appointed ahead of Sam Allardyce in the first place

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Sam Allardyce outside his home after he was sacked

He will be hoping for a better performance than last month’s 1-0 win in Slovakia — Allardyce’s only game in charge — which needed an injury-time winner from Lallana.

Southgate said: “It’s been a difficult week but I’m looking forward to working with the players. It’s a great honour. I was conscious there was good continuity with myself and most of the players I’ve worked with or know.

“Some people are unavailable through injury, like Kane, Butland, we’ve lost Drinkwater, Lallana, Clyne over the weekend, Luke Shaw is not quite fully fit yet - so that’s had a bearing on the squad.”

As for Manchester United striker Rashford, Southgate wants him to take part in next year’s European Under-21 Championships in Poland.

The ex-Middlesbrough boss said: “We hope Marcus goes to that next summer — that would be great for his development.

“He’s in good form, so it’s good for him to be back with the seniors.”

Southgate will also be in charge for the November matches, a friendly with Spain and a World Cup qualifier at home to Scotland.

AP:Associated Press

Sam Allardyce threw away his dream job now its up to Southgate to pick up the pieces

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